Just a reminder as we sprint to the Christmas holiday break that peer and informal observations are due next week. Remember to take care of yourselves; eat your veggies, take your vitamins, and get your rest. We are not nearly as effective when you aren't here. No one is an expert like you are in your classroom. Our students success depends on your being in the classroom.
Looking at the latest rounds of our benchmark exams it is clear that learning is taking place in our classrooms here at the home of the "Fighting Rutherford's." It is important that we do not allow ourselves or our students to become complacent with the mid-year results. We must continue to focus on instruction, quality instruction, in our classes and ensure that all of our students have the best opportunity to be successful. One thing we will begin to look more closely at is the breakdown and needs of the sub-pops that make up our school. These sub-pops go beyond SpEd and ELL and include Afro-American, Native American, at-risk, etc...
While our focus and direction will continue to stay on the same path as it has been all year we will need to begin transitioning towards a more focused curriculum and incorporating test taking strategies in our daily routines. The conversations with our students needs to carry the same tone and verbiage as the upcoming standardized tests. Our students need to hear the language on the test in every lesson we teach. Test taking strategies need to be taught on a regular basis. Things like how to draw out information from the text, understanding what the question is asking, and making inferences are things that need to be taught on a regular basis in our classrooms. These strategies are not exclusive to our core content teachers but need to be extended into all aspects of the daily routine. Specials teachers can incorporate higher level thinking into their lessons and conversations with their students.
Next week I will continue to discuss, and we will continue to incorporate, these test taking strategies in our daily routines. Keep up the good work!
Shaun Ross
2014 - 2015 Committees:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3lrYycQKGUiU29FazU0VEVJWjQ/edit?usp=sharing
2014 - 2015 Peer Observation:
The peer observation window opened Friday September 26, 2014. I will check periodically to see how everyone is doing on their observations. Please use the link below to find out your partner.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3lrYycQKGUiTHVIdDRnbUNNWnJHMElhR2xfeHNyOGVXajdF/edit?usp=sharing
Peer Observation Guide:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3lrYycQKGUiNXVnZVA1U0Jza2s/view?usp=sharing
The peer observation window opened Friday September 26, 2014. I will check periodically to see how everyone is doing on their observations. Please use the link below to find out your partner.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3lrYycQKGUiTHVIdDRnbUNNWnJHMElhR2xfeHNyOGVXajdF/edit?usp=sharing
Peer Observation Guide:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3lrYycQKGUiNXVnZVA1U0Jza2s/view?usp=sharing
Showcase Schedule for Monthly Rise and Shine:
In order for everyone to take a more active role in the Monthly Awards I am asking that each grade level participate in the showcase portion of the Rise and Shine. Everyone on campus will have a month to show the rest of the school what's great about your classes. You can have your students sing, dance, demonstrate, share... Have fun with it!
August: P.E./Music
September: Office Staff
October: Library/Media
November: First Grade
December: Pre-Kindergarten
January: Fourth Grade
February: Kindergarten
March: Third Grade
April: P.E./Music
May: Second Grade
Oklahoma State Blueprints:
In order for everyone to take a more active role in the Monthly Awards I am asking that each grade level participate in the showcase portion of the Rise and Shine. Everyone on campus will have a month to show the rest of the school what's great about your classes. You can have your students sing, dance, demonstrate, share... Have fun with it!
November: First Grade
December: Pre-Kindergarten
January: Fourth Grade
February: Kindergarten
March: Third Grade
April: P.E./Music
May: Second Grade
Oklahoma State Blueprints:
Available accommodations for the OCCT:
A quick guide to standards and assessments:
- English Language Arts: 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 school year – PASS standards, PASS-aligned assessments.
- Mathematics: 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 school years – PASS standards, PASS-aligned assessments.
- Science: 2014-2015 school year – begin transition to science standards adopted into rule in June 2014; PASS-aligned assessments for grades 5, 8, and Biology 1 for high school for 2014-2105 and 2015-2016 school years.
- Social Studies: 2014-2015 school year – Oklahoma Academic Standards for Social Studies as adopted in 2012; All four social studies assessments are OAS-aligned in Grades 5, 7, and 8, as well as high school U.S. History. All four assessments will be fully operational in 2014-2015.
- Fine Arts: 2014-2015 school year – transition to new standards adopted by law in June of 2014, The annual district arts assessment report will be due at the Oklahoma State Department of Education the end of May 2015.
- World Languages: 2014-15 school year – PASS standards, no state assessment. New standards will be written beginning fall 2014.
- Personal Financial Literacy: 2014-2015 school year – Oklahoma Academic Standards for Personal Financial Literacy as adopted in 2008, no state assessment.
- Health/Safety Education: 2014-2015 school year – PASS Standards, no state assessment.
- Kindergarten: 2014-2015 school year – PASS standards, no state assessments.
- PreKindergarten: 2014-2015 PASS standards; no state assessments.
Hayes Elementary Academic goals for 2014-2015:
- All students WILL achieve academically.
- Increase OCCT Reading scores for all subgroups by 25%
- Increase OCCT Mathematics scores for all subgroups by 25%
- Increase OCCT Writing scores for all subgroups by 25%
- Increase the number of students who qualify for promotion in RSA by 25%
- Decrease Suspensions by 25%
- School wide overall attendance to 96%
- Faculty attendance to 98%
Videos Worth Watching:
Laura Trice: Remember to say thank you - via @TEDTalks
Johnny Lee: Free or cheap Wii remote hacks - via @TEDTalks
George Takei: Why I love a country that once betrayed me - via @TEDTalks
Future Ready - via @usedgov
Articles Worth Reading:
Johnny Lee: Free or cheap Wii remote hacks - via @TEDTalks
George Takei: Why I love a country that once betrayed me - via @TEDTalks
Future Ready - via @usedgov
Articles Worth Reading:
Thinking about the importance of open ended and effective questioning. - via @JessicaWells18
8 Qualities of Leaders Who Deliver Value Everyday - via @entmagazine
Educate With Heart - via @TonySinasis
What Are We Talking About When We Talk About Standards? - via @HuffPost
The Educational Delusion Scheme - via @jmsprincipal
3 Assumptions We Shouldn't Make About Educators - via @gcouros
Igniting Student Writer Voice With Writing Process Strategies - via @edutopia
The One Simple Question That Leads to Success - via @pickthebrain
US History Teachers Blog: Quizlet and Studying for Tests - via @kenhalla
The Week in Review - A Lifetime of Teaching - via @rmbyrne
For You, My Friend - via @shfarnsworth
Why Education Reform Cannot Work - via @idsnews
Weekly Look Ahead:
Monday December 1, 2014 - Normal school day, Unannounced Observation cycle continues. Peer Observations continue. After school tutorials from 3:15pm to 4:15pm. Part One of Mr. Ross' evaluation at 3:00pm to 4:00pm. OKC Reading Buddies
Tuesday December 2, 2014 - Normal school day, grade level meetings during planning. Mr. Ross to Central Office in the morning. 2 IEP meetings @ 9:00am and 9:15am. NO after school meeting. OKC Reading Buddies
Wednesday December 3, 2014 - Normal school day. November student of the month names due to front office. ELL Training in the Hayes Elementary Library from 3:30pm to 5:30pm. REMEMBER YOU GET PAID FOR ATTENDING!!! OKC Reading Buddies
Thursday December 4, 2014 - Normal school day. After school tutorials from 3:15pm to 4:15pm. OKC Reading Buddies. Staff Holiday Party @ Chilis... Around 4:30ish...? Bring a small gift for the "dirty santa" exchange.
Friday December 5, 2014 - Rise and Shine in the Cafeteria. First Grade is showcasing. Spirit Day! Rumble from the OKC Thunder at Hayes Elementary. TGIF!!!!!!
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